Jean-Paul Sartre was born on June 15, 1905 in Paris, France and died at the age of 74 on April 15, 1980. He was a graduate of Ecole Normale Superieure in 1929. His life long companion was also a philosopher, Simone De Beauvoir. Sartre became a popular Existentialist just after World War Two. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 in the category of literature, but refused to accept it.
Biography
After studying at Ecole Normale Superieure for close to five years Sartre became a professor in philosophy at Le Havre in 1931. Sartre not only specialized in philosophy, but also wrote many plays and novels that would follow with his philosophy, but often had a main character and a great plot to it.
Sartre's father died when he was only at the age of one. After this Sartre had no one the live with so he moved in with his grandfather. If you look at the picture above you might notice that Sartre was cross-eyed, a problem he had growing up all of his life. Sartre was always known as one of the smartest and most talented kids in his class. Although this is true he was known for goofing around and doing silly things. Sartre spent most of his time thinking about his philosophy subjects in cafes, which in fact is where he met his companion, Simone De Beauvoir.
Toward the end of World War Two, Sartre was captured by Germans and held captive for 9 months. Once he returned to France he served in a group that fought against the Nazi people that invaded France called the French Resistance.
Philosophy
Sartre was a very influential character in Marxism. Marxism was a philosophical view created by none other than Karl Marx. The Marxism group were Communists and even though Sartre was a supporter of Marxism he did not get along well with Communists. Due to this he quit being involved with the Marxist party.
Sartre was what you called an Existentialist philosopher. An Existentialist philosopher is one who's main focus is centered upon the study of existence and the way humans find themselves living in the world. They also believed that humans are the main focus and they spend their lifetime debating their aspects of nature. Sartre was influenced by many philosophers such as Immanuel Kant, Georg Hegel, Soren Kierkegaard, Martin Heidegger, and many more. Some philosophers Sartre was influenced by were not Existentialists.
Sartre's Existentialism was mainly focused on free will of the human being. Sartre once said, "Humans are condemned to be free." He believed all humans are free and they figure out their aspects in life throughout their existence. Also he believed that until death no human life is fulfilled or completed.
Sartre said that there was no aspect in a human's life because there was no creator. He once used the example of a paper knife. Sure it looked like it could serve a purpose but as soon as you tried to cut something it would fail. Everyone could say "Maybe there is a different purpose for it, because the creator knows what it is supposed to do." Well Sartre would say no, because it has no purpose because since he believed there was no creator it is condemned to be free. In other words, it could do anything it wants because there is no true plan for it. He is quoted for backing this up saying, "We are left alone, without excuse."
Major Works
La Nausee, translated to English and named Nausea. Sartre's first novel, published in 1938.
Being and Nothingness, tried to answer the question "What is the relation of being to its nothingness?"
Existentialism is a Humanism, considered by many to be considered as one of the greatest Existentialism texts written.
No Exit, is considered to be one of the most confusing/ hard to read plays written.
Interesting Facts
Believed man is a responsible being.
Believed the universe is meaningless and man is a lonely being.
Sartre died on April 15,1980 because of his smoking and drinking habits throughout his life span.
Sartre's companion whom he never married, Simone de Beauvoir, also was an Existentialist.
Notable Quotations
"Hell is other people."
"We do not know what we want and yet we are responsible for what we are - that is the fact."
"Words are loaded pistols."
"If you are lonely when you're alone, you are in bad company."
"Every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness, and dies by chance."
"In life a man commits himself, draws his own portrait, and there is nothing but that portrait."
Bibliography
Gaarder, Jostein. Sophie's World. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1994. Print.
Jean-Paul Sartre
Introduction
Jean-Paul Sartre was born on June 15, 1905 in Paris, France and died at the age of 74 on April 15, 1980. He was a graduate of Ecole Normale Superieure in 1929. His life long companion was also a philosopher, Simone De Beauvoir. Sartre became a popular Existentialist just after World War Two. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 in the category of literature, but refused to accept it.
Biography
After studying at Ecole Normale Superieure for close to five years Sartre became a professor in philosophy at Le Havre in 1931. Sartre not only specialized in philosophy, but also wrote many plays and novels that would follow with his philosophy, but often had a main character and a great plot to it.
Sartre's father died when he was only at the age of one. After this Sartre had no one the live with so he moved in with his grandfather. If you look at the picture above you might notice that Sartre was cross-eyed, a problem he had growing up all of his life. Sartre was always known as one of the smartest and most talented kids in his class. Although this is true he was known for goofing around and doing silly things. Sartre spent most of his time thinking about his philosophy subjects in cafes, which in fact is where he met his companion, Simone De Beauvoir.
Toward the end of World War Two, Sartre was captured by Germans and held captive for 9 months. Once he returned to France he served in a group that fought against the Nazi people that invaded France called the French Resistance.
Philosophy
Sartre was a very influential character in Marxism. Marxism was a philosophical view created by none other than Karl Marx. The Marxism group were Communists and even though Sartre was a supporter of Marxism he did not get along well with Communists. Due to this he quit being involved with the Marxist party.
Sartre was what you called an Existentialist philosopher. An Existentialist philosopher is one who's main focus is centered upon the study of existence and the way humans find themselves living in the world. They also believed that humans are the main focus and they spend their lifetime debating their aspects of nature. Sartre was influenced by many philosophers such as Immanuel Kant, Georg Hegel, Soren Kierkegaard, Martin Heidegger, and many more. Some philosophers Sartre was influenced by were not Existentialists.
Sartre's Existentialism was mainly focused on free will of the human being. Sartre once said, "Humans are condemned to be free." He believed all humans are free and they figure out their aspects in life throughout their existence. Also he believed that until death no human life is fulfilled or completed.
Sartre said that there was no aspect in a human's life because there was no creator. He once used the example of a paper knife. Sure it looked like it could serve a purpose but as soon as you tried to cut something it would fail. Everyone could say "Maybe there is a different purpose for it, because the creator knows what it is supposed to do." Well Sartre would say no, because it has no purpose because since he believed there was no creator it is condemned to be free. In other words, it could do anything it wants because there is no true plan for it. He is quoted for backing this up saying, "We are left alone, without excuse."
Major Works
Interesting Facts
Notable Quotations
Bibliography